Last week, Governor Bill Lee made a speech in which he referenced the
2nd Amendment, the Founding Fathers and the rights of the citizens. He
said ” “The Second Amendment is clear and concise and secures the
freedoms of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms.” He told us he
was introducing legislation that “… will protect the Second Amendment
rights of Tennesseans ….”
About 4 days later, copies of the
proposed bill started to be leaked from the Legislature and, surprise,
it was not constitutional carry at all. It was nothing more than
qualified exception to a potential Class A misdemeanor charge for
carrying a firearm with intent to go armed in a place open to the public
where 1 or more persons are present.
You read that correct!
The Governor stated he was going to recognize and remove infringements
on our rights but instead all his legislation does on that issue is
create a technical, qualified, confusing exception to a criminal charge.
Our Founding Fathers did not write the 2nd Amendment in words
that gave rise to a defense to a criminal charge. The Founding Fathers
affirmatively wrote to recognize a right and to prohibit government
from any infringement on that right.
As soon as TFA could obtain
a copy of the bill it was immediately clear that the proposed amendment
is not constitutional carry. TFA immediately started looking at how
the bill might be amended as well as talking to specific legislators
that we felt were in fact truly pro-2nd Amendment.
The good news is that there are ongoing constructive discussions
taking place with specific House and Senate members about TFA’s concerns
over the Governor’s bill and how it can be improved. We are optimistic
that these Legislators are not only listening to the validity of TFA’s
points and experience on both constitutional and state law but of equal
importance that they are listening to their constituents many of whom
are expressing their serious disapproval of the substance of the
Governor’s bill.
It remains timely and important for each of
you to be contacting your legislators and Governor Lee today and
everyday until these serious constitutional flaws with his legislation
are corrected.
You can look up your legislators on the
Legislature’s website.
You can contact the Governor by calling his office – day and night – at this number: (615) 741-2001
